DiE on AiR: Social Broadcasting at UAL

Timna Krenn, MA Performance: Theatre Making student at Wimbledon College of Arts and Post-Grad Community Ambassador, interviews Teddy Godwin and Jess Sammut, hosts of Central Saint Martins' (CSM) Spatial Radio's DiE on AiR program.

On a mild summer afternoon, I met Teddy Godwin and Jess Sammut. They were the creators, producers, and hosts of DiE on AiR, a program aired on Spatial Radio, a radio platform established out of CSM's Spatial Practices programme. We comfortably sat on one of the benches on the first-floor balcony, overlooking the nearly quiet Street at CSM, where they broadcasted several of their shows. During our conversation, we discussed DiE on AiR, their advocacy for change, the beauty of collaborations, and the concept of social broadcasting.

Teddy, who initiated the show, is currently studying MA Narrative Environments at CSM. They embarked on this project due to their passion for the surrealist game Exquisite Corpse and their dissatisfaction with UAL’s approach to developing as an institution, which compelled them to advocate for change. They are also a member of CSM Changemakers, which provided them with the necessary funding to launch this project.

DiE on AiR ran for over 12 weeks, from January to May 2023, and focused on discussing topics related to the university, aimed at questioning and challenging UAL itself. Curious to learn more about the necessity for change, I delved into the show.

What is DiE on AiR?

Teddy explained,

"As a change maker, my role involves questioning the University's current structures, particularly focusing on their language usage and the student experience. I also examined aspects such as Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity. However, I grew somewhat disenchanted because these terms were being tossed around without meaningful impact; they seemed to have devolved into mere marketing strategies."

Jess, who joined this project as a creative producer, graduated from the same MA programme last year. Since completing her course, she has developed her expertise in sound practices and is now highly interested in utilising this medium to challenge institutions. Her primary role in this project encompassed communication, curation, and outreach to engage guests for the show.

Jess elaborated,

"The name DiE on AiR plays with words, providing a playful avenue to critique institutions and their EDI strategies. Another critical aspect was our intention to go beyond the superficial mention of terms like diversity, inclusivity, and equity, as often seen in marketing strategies. We aimed to embody these concepts in a tangible way. As part of this goal, we took the show outside of the Spatial Practices department to increase accessibility of radio at CSM. We strategically set up the show on The Street, right in front of the LVMH lecture theatre to be as visible as possible."

How did the show evolve?

Teddy explained,

"In my younger days, I frequently engaged in a game called Exquisite Corpse, where participants would collaboratively draw the head, body, and feet of a figure, each person adding a segment without seeing the previous ones. The result was an amalgamation that gave rise to a unique character. We extended this concept to storytelling as well. As I delved into the origins of the exquisite corpse game, the idea struck me that I could adopt it for a project. The initial version took the form of a series of four workshops. Over time, the project expanded, and we explored various formats, including radio. An additional ambition was to unite all nine distinct programs at CSM, fostering their active participation and engagement."

Jess continued,

"Liam Green, who is responsible for Community Engagement at CSM, offered us substantial support and showed enthusiasm for the radio proposal. His excitement was palpable when discussing the concept of exquisite corpse and how it could effectively engage students across diverse programs and campuses. He envisioned us traveling to various campuses, adopting a roving radio approach, which we indeed embraced. Consequently, DiE on AiR evolved to include a blend of live conversations, active participation, and student surveys conducted on different campuses. We also fostered collaborations with societies within UAL, such as the Persian Arts Society, and artistic collectives like The People Speak. Across 12 episodes, we explored plenty of formats, all anchored in our fundamental goal of fostering a truly social atmosphere on campus."

How would you describe DiE on AiR in three words?

Jess responds with hearty laughter, "Embodying diversity live."

Teddy adds, "Direct Social Action."

Jess further elaborates,

"Absolutely, we observed that the show encompassed all the facets of social broadcasting, which essentially involves being social in a physical space. In this context, live engagement with people holds more significance than the number of listeners. Rather than broadcasting from a conventional radio studio, the approach is to take the radio to people and employ various media forms to delve into the program's content. This encapsulates what our show evolved into, and it aligns with our vision of university radio—creating a more robust social infrastructure."

I was impressed by the way they collaborated, which they described as complementary and enriching. They managed to establish trust and depend on each other's contributions, a fundamental aspect of the project. As the radio show evolved, so did their growth. They encountered mistakes, learned collectively, and now take pride in their collaborative creation.

Having personally experienced DiE on AiR both in person and online, I can attest that Jess and Teddy genuinely embodied what they were elucidating. During their 7th episode, I joined them in person on The Street at CSM, where I witnessed firsthand the embodiment of social action within UAL. Students from various backgrounds and campuses came together, engaging in a discussion about the university's quiet rooms. It was heartening to listen to a multitude of voices—students who eagerly stepped up to the microphone to share their perspectives. In an unexpected turn of events, my colleague and friend Teju, whom I had been trying to catch up with for quite some time, coincidentally happened by and participated in the conversation. This is lived social intervention.

Related Links

• Listen to DiE on AiR
• Follow DiE on AiR on Instagram
• Find out more about Spatial Radio
• Discover CSM's Spatial Practices programme
• Follow Timna Krenn on Instagram

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