My Voice is Hoarse from Pain – An Interview with Yuliia Holovatiuk-Ungureanu.

In this deeply poignant episode, I chat to Ukrainian artist Yuliia Holovatiuk-Ungureanu.

Yuliia reflects on her personal journey through war, displacement, and artistic expression.

Speaking on the last day of her exhibition My Voice is Hoarse from Pain, which was presented at the University of Staffordshire 18th February to 3rd March 2025, Yuliia shares how she turned tragedy into powerful artwork.

"Where suffering speaks, silence is not an option."

Yuliia reflects on:

• Fleeing Ukraine: The morning of the invasion, the frantic escape with her children, and the uncertainty of leaving everything behind.
• The power of art: How she transformed from a lawyer into an artist, using art as a way to document and share Ukraine’s suffering.
• Artworks and installations:
  • The Escape – A collection of personal belongings carried while fleeing.
  • Lost Dreams – Paper planes symbolising Ukrainian children lost in the war.
  • I Have to Leave My Childhood Here – A melted children's chair, recovered from the ruins of a bombed home in Irpin.
• Returning to Ukraine: Her decision to collect artefacts from destroyed homes to bear witness through art.
• A message to world leaders: The need for real security guarantees for Ukraine and global peace.

🎧 Listen now to hear Yuliia’s powerful story of resilience, memory, and art.

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Jerome Whittingham

Visual and audio narratives that empower, inform and inspire | Documentary & Editorial Photographer | Audio Journalist & Podcaster | Writer | People are my focus

https://linktr.ee/jeromewnews

In this podcast episode, we meet Derek Hulme, a passionate gardener and community champion on a mission to transform a Stoke-on-Trent suburb with flowers.

A self-funded community-driven initiative, with recycled planters to compost sourced from unexpected places (yes, police drug busts!), this community-focused project spearheaded by the plot holders at Buxton Street allotments is all about bringing colour, pride, and a sense of togetherness to the neighbourhood of Sneyd Green.

We explore Derek’s decades-long love of gardening, his world record breaking giant leeks and runner beans, and how the centenary of Stoke-on-Trent has inspired him to push forward with his idea.

Hear how local businesses, schools, and community groups are joining forces with Derek and his fellow allotment holders to create a greener, more beautiful Sneyd Green - one flower at a time.

Listen in to hear:
- How Derek’s obsession with growing has blossomed into this community movement
- The creative ways they’re sourcing materials for the project
- The impact of gardening on local pride and people’s mental well-being
- Stories from Derek’s world record-breaking vegetable-growing pursuits

Keep in touch with what's happening during Stoke-on-Trent's Centenary year: https://sot100.org.uk/
#SOT100

Jerome is Stoke-on-Trent City Council's 'Photographer in Residence' for the city's centenary year.

Say hello. Give feedback. Send Jerome a text

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Jerome Whittingham

Visual and audio narratives that empower, inform and inspire | Documentary & Editorial Photographer | Audio Journalist & Podcaster | Writer | People are my focus

https://linktr.ee/jeromewnews

In this episode, I chat with Lisa Blower, award-winning author and lecturer in Creative Writing at Keele University, about her exciting project for Stoke-on-Trent's centenary year: 100 Books in 100 Years.

Lisa takes us behind the scenes of this ambitious Arts Council England funded initiative to uncover and celebrate a century of literary works by authors born in The Potteries.

Discover how a chance observation sparked the idea, the cultural partners rallying around the project, and the treasure trove of forgotten books, poetry, and pamphlets already being uncovered.

Lisa also shares her hopes for this project, including inspiring future writers through workshops, micro residencies, and creative legacy projects like The Places That Make Us.

Links:

Lisa’s website: lisablower.co.uk

Email: 100potteriesbooks@gmail.com

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This year, Jerome has been appointed 'Photographer in Residence' with Stoke-on-Trent City Council's centenary team. Jerome will be documenting Stoke-on-Trent's 100th year as a city.

Find out more: https://sot100.org.uk/

Say hello. Give feedback. Send Jerome a text

Support the show

Jerome Whittingham

Visual and audio narratives that empower, inform and inspire | Documentary & Editorial Photographer | Audio Journalist & Podcaster | Writer | People are my focus

https://linktr.ee/jeromewnews