How many disabled creatives have you worked with?

27% of the EU population has a disability. By the time we all reach 65, half of us will be disabled. But the creative industry? Surprise, surprise, that number drops to just 12%.

We went on a mission to find out why — and ask some of the questions we’re all afraid to. Like, how do I approach someone to find out about their disability? What words can’t I use? Will it get me cancelled? Is my studio accessible? What does that actually look like?

And most importantly, what more can we be doing?

To answer all our questions, we’re joined by Paul Hewitt (Executive Creative Director at That Lot) and Julie Seal (Founder & CCO Republic of Imagination) in a candid conversation about their experiences being disabled creatives.

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Stats: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/disability-eu-facts-figures/

https://advertisingallin.co.uk/ (The stat included in the episode was based on the 2021 census, there has since been new data released which has seen a rise from 9% to 12%)

https://creativeaccess.org.uk/app/uploads/2024/01/disability-report-28th-nov.pdf

Ryan Hudson-Peralta: https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2022/01/19/ryan-hudson-peralta-designing-with-a-disability

Georgia Lupi: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/12/14/opinion/my-life-with-long-covid.html

Creative Equals: https://www.creativeequals.org/disabledcreatives

SCOPE: https://www.scope.org.uk/

Stories: Opal

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Our freelance listeners are furious – and maybe they have a right to be.

Cancelled bookings. Late payments. Chaotic onboarding. Loneliness. But with nearly half of the creative industry being self-employed and studios relying on freelancers to bolster their teams, what’s going wrong?

This week, we talk to two experts in all things freelance. Sadia Noor, Creative Partner at Small World shares what it’s like to run an entirely freelance model. Matthew Knight, Chief Freelance Officer at The Independency Co. discusses the issues his community encounters time and time again.

They discuss the benefits of hiring freelance talent, the biggest frustrations, and what we need to do to help change the way the industry looks after its largest talent pool.

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Stats: https://www.leapers.co/research/2024/#chapter-headlines

https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2025/03/report-finds-creative-freelancers-hit-by-loss-of-work-late-pay-and-rise-of-ai/#

https://www.thedoers.co.uk/blog/are-freelancers-more-productive-than-employees

Leapers: https://www.leapers.co/

Freelancing support: https://www.freelancing.support/resources/guide-to/dealing-with-late-payments/at-a-glance/

WithJack: https://withjack.co.uk/

South West Freelancers: Kerry Wheeler

Stories: Sam Edwards / Tarn / Ellen / Chris Greenwood / Miltos Bottis / Jack

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the rise in conversations around ‘working mums’, we wondered, why don’t we call fathers ‘working dads’?

As we strive for equal parenting, Dads are picking up more of the mental, emotional and physical load of raising children. Juggling being hands-on both at home and in the studio. All with less parental leave, less support and less opportunity to share how they’re coping.

Our two guests are fathers of children, teenagers and creative teams, Ali Ozden (Universal Favourite) & Jamie Ellul (Supple Studio)

We asked them how becoming Designer Dads has impacted their careers, creativity and mental health (and if they want their children to follow in their footsteps)

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Stats: https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/70-of-dads-who-didnt-take-their-full-paternity-leave-entitlement-had-to-cut-it-short-due-to-cost/

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/familiesandthelabourmarketengland/2019

https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/why-we-are-campaigning-for-6-weeks-paid-paternity-leave/

Dadwell & Co: https://dadwell.co/

Fathercraft: https://fathercraft.com/fathers-ed/

Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/

Calm: https://www.thecalmzone.net/

Andys Man Club: https://andysmanclub.co.uk/groups/

Tommys: https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/dads-and-partners/looking-after-your-mental-health-after-baby-born

Stories: Samuel / Lee Davies / Jack Trotman / Sam / Adam Ding

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The NDA Podcast is created by Lucky Dip. Hosted by Katie Cadwell & produced by Hatty Wytton.

Edited by James from Be Heard. Original music 'The Theme from NDA' by Jamie Ellul & Toby McLaren.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.