Teach Inspire Create podcast series 4 wrap-up!

- Written byUAL Awarding Body
- Published date 21 May 2025

The fourth series of the Teach Inspire Create podcast has come to a finish! UAL Awarding Body reflects on the conversations and themes captured throughout the podcast: sound design, dance, game development, inclusive education and much more. Hosted by UAL Awarding Body Chief Examiner for Art and Design, Matt Moseley, the podcast once again lived up to its name - teaching, inspiring and celebrating creativity in every medium.
Here's a round-up of the episodes in case you missed it!
Harris Elliott
Earlier in the series, Harris Elliott, a multidisciplinary creative director, stylist and guest lecturer at CSM, brought a sharp lens to the world of visual storytelling. With 20 years of experience working across fashion, art and music, Harris shared how inspiration can come from unexpected places - like spotting the sign “Le Tings” on Old Kent Road, which sparked a platform exploring diasporic identity through street culture. From styling musicians to designing with leading brands, Harris emphasised the importance of building rapport and drawing from a variety of cultural references, including architecture, regalia and mentors like Judy Blame from i-D magazine.
Listen to Curating style and skills in fashion with Harris Elliott
Monique Foulger
Monique Foulger, associate producer at Opera Holland Park and founder of InGiving, opened up about her unconventional route into theatre. Initially inspired by school drama trips, she studied Drama and Theatre Studies at the University of Kent, where a guest speaker would unexpectedly become her future boss. Monique spoke about the powerful mix of academia and practical theatre training that shaped her journey - from stand-up and dramaturgy to working in opera production. She also shared the origin of InGiving, a pandemic-born charity project encouraging micro-donations and community empowerment, and her hopes to diversify opera for younger and more inclusive audiences.
Listen to Venturing behind the stage curtains with Monique Foulger
Simon Keep
Simon Keep, a sound artist, educator and founder of Holkham Sound, delved into the art of listening. From New Year’s Eve fireworks echoing through the Swiss Alps to inventing light-sensitive instruments like the Phonestone, Simon demonstrates how sound is both deeply personal and collaborative. His work in sound education, including free workshops through his music charity Clip, reveals the magic of sonic experimentation in the classroom and beyond.
Michelle Williams Gamaker
Michelle Williams Gamaker, an award-winning artist filmmaker, shared her process of deconstructing and reimagining cinematic history. With roots in experimental performance and an ethos grounded in anti-racist education, Michelle’s films rework the classics through a critical and affectionate lens. She spoke about creating co-learning spaces that dismantle hierarchies and nurturing mutual growth between tutor and student.
Listen to Reinventing stories through a revolutionary lens with Michelle Williams Gamaker
Ivan Michael Blackstock
The power of movement took centre stage in an episode featuring Ivan Michael Blackstock, whose group TRAPLORD combines dance and community. Ivan reflected on growing up in South London, early creative mentors like Jonzi D and using dance as a form of emotional expression. From church influences to literature like Paradise Lost, Ivan’s practice is about building worlds and empowering others through art.
Listen to Innovating artistic expression through dance with Ivan Michael Blackstock
Sally O’Reilly
Writer Sally O’Reilly brought her voice and rich storytelling to the podcast, tracing her journey from fine art to writing through pubs, performance and art reviewing. Sally’s work defies genre, weaving together humour and fantasy. She reflects on creativity’s messy, communal nature, and the surprising spaces - like a post-COVID virtual pub - that can spark artistic collaboration.
Listen to Crafting diverse storytelling practices with Sally O’Reilly
Sam Read-Graves
Sam Read-Graves, a BAFTA-nominated game designer, explored the narrative power of games and the journey from hobbyist to industry professional. Creator of Trolley Problem, Inc., Sam shared how his teaching background and love for game mechanics informs his storytelling. Sam emphasised the power of learning not just from successes but also from failure and why passion, in any role, can be the vehicle through which creativity thrives.
Listen to Constructing narratives in game design with Sam Read-Graves
Sophie Deen
This series ends on a high note with Sophie Deen, founder of Bright Little Labs, who brings a blend of storytelling and activism into the educational space. Sophie’s journey - from law to tech, to creating children’s media – highlights her mission to empower young people with 21st-century skills. She speaks passionately about reimagining education through creative problem-solving and inclusive representation, sharing the story behind her bestselling Agent Asha book series and her bold vision for the future of learning.
Throughout the series, each guest offered a provocation - a creative prompt or idea to challenge the listener’s perspective. Whether through sound, movement, words or code, Teach Inspire Create reminded us that creativity is a lifelong process of exploration.
Listen to Series 4 now, available on all streaming platforms. Share your thoughts using #TICPodcast - and let the learning continue.