Creatives Like Us
Creatives Like Us is a podcast hosted by graphic designer Angela Lyons, founder of the design studio Lyons Creative. It opens up the conversation about the creative industry by amplifying the voices of underrepresented Black and brown creatives. Through candid interviews with inspiring professionals, the show breaks down barriers and shows that a successful creative career is possible for everyone. Episodes offer insight, encouragement and practical advice for students, graduates and anyone exploring a new career path.
Episodes
Sandra Palmer: Surreal Collage, Heritage and Finding Your Way Back to Art
In the Season 3 finale of Creatives Like Us I'm joined by Sandra Palmer, a Birmingham-based surreal collage artist. After more than 16 years as a designer in lingerie and swimwear, she began making collages during lockdown. It became a way to slow down, practise mindfulness and reconnect with the creativity she has had since childhood. In this episode we talk about why there was never a singl
Cooking up a Creative Future: From Scientist to Baking Educator
What happens when a pharmaceutical scientist of 20 years decides to swap the laboratory for mixing bowls?In this episode, Angela Lyons is speaking with Kerry Herbert, founder of My Baking Classroom, who turned her childhood love of baking into a business that now teaches more than 100 children every week.Kerry combines baking, creativity and education to make learning more engaging and accessible,
Mastering podcast discovery and marketing strategies with Christina Moore
In this engaging interview, Christina Moore shares her journey from media enthusiast to founder of Don't Skip Media, highlighting the importance of mentorship, podcast discovery, and strategic marketing. Discover how her experiences and insights can inspire aspiring creatives and entrepreneurs.Connect with Christina:LinkedIn hereWebsite hereChristina also runs her own podcast, A Mind For Mark
A Poetic Odyssey with Peju 'The Spark' Abuchi
In this episode Angela sits down with Peju Abuchi, known as Peju the Spark, a poetic speaker and therapeutic wordsmith whose mission is healing the world one stage at a time through poetry infused with oratory.They talk about where Peju's creativity started, why she waited until her mid-40s to take poetry from side hustle to full-time calling and how she now performs spoken word experiences o
Splinter Group to Furniture School: Woodworking, Business and Belonging
In this episode of Creatives Like Us I sit down with Helen Welch, founder of London Furniture School and a woodworker of 42 years. Helen shares how leaving school early led her to a community carpentry scheme which set the course for her career. We talk about her journey through building control back to making, what it's like being one of the few women and people of colour in craft industries
Embracing Creativity in Property and Business
Today's guest is Jasmin Dhillon, an ACCA-qualified accountant who built her early career at global brands including Starbucks and CBRE before carving out a thriving path in property.In this episode we explore creativity in business and the unexpected ways it shows up in how we make money. Jasmin shares how she weaves creativity into her property career and challenges assumptions about what cr
Kira the Bold: Permission to Be Audacious
In this episode Angela sits down with Kira Matthews (Kira the Bold), a creative coach who helps people pitch themselves to brands and overcome rejection.Kira shares how a viral post about audacity took her from 5,000 to 25,000 followers in a month and what that number really means to her. She talks candidly about leaving a fast paced career in fashion styling that wore down her self esteem and bui
Making Business Less Frightening and more Fun – with Kemar Sisimayi-Dyke
What does it look like to build a marketing agency, run sell-out networking events, mentor young creatives and go into schools to teach kids how to start businesses – all before your 21st birthday? Meet Kemar Sisimayi-Dyke of Nova Connects. In this episode Kemar shares how a viral TikTok jewellery brand led him to discover his real purpose, why he sold it and what that decision taught him about do
Building a Playful Illustration Style with Ashwin Chacko
In this episode Angela is joined by Ashwin Chacko, also known as Wacko Chacko – a positively playful, award-winning illustrator, author and motivational speaker based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ashwin shares the journey from drawing as a five-year-old in India to building a full-time illustration career in Ireland, and everything in between — advertising, art direction, freelance pivots and a v
Making It on Your Own Terms: Kazvare on Art and Anonymity
"My art is a form of social commentary" – Kazvare Made ItIn this episode, Angela Lyons interviews illustrator and writer Kazare about her creative journey and social commentary through art. They discuss the importance of black representation in art, navigating social media and future projects.Kazvare is a writer, illustrator and graphic designer who is forging a name for herself with her
Opening up Season 3
If you have enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review here. Thank you!Support the showContact InformationThis podcast is hosted by award-winning graphic designer Angela Lyons of Lyons Creative.If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to be featured on this podcast, please contact Angela here.Are you creating your own podcast? My set up is easy as I record on Riverside. You can check
That’s a wrap! Reflections of Season Two
Join Angela Lyons as she reflects on the lessons learned and highlights from season two of the Creatives Like Us podcast, celebrating creativity and community.---As we wrap up season two of Creatives Like Us, I want to take a moment to reflect on the journey we've been on together. Throughout this season, we’ve explored various topics related to creativity, confidence and community. Today, I’
Print, Passion and a Playlist: Rob Ellison of Tonic Magazine
This week I'm joined by Rob Ellison, co-founder of Tonic, a stunning long-form print magazine dedicated to the history and culture of drinks. We recorded this one in person at Burnt Faith Distillery in Walthamstow (yes, a brandy distillery inside a former church) and it's one of those conversations that just flows. Rob's creative journey started with a drum kit spotted in the corner
Writing your legacy: Celestine's journey to his first poetry book
In this episode of Creatives Like Us, Celestine Ekpenyong, a storyteller, poet and aspiring motivational speaker, sits down and talks with your host Angela Lyons. He takes us through his vibrant journey of creative expression, from childhood reading ambitions to publishing his poetry after three decades. He shares his personal insights on the power of storytelling, embracing one's cultural ro
Content, Ne'Twerking and talking strategy with Jess Bruno
In this episode of the Creatives Like Us podcast, host Angela sits down with Jess Bruno, a creative content strategist based in London. They discuss Jess's journey from aspiring Spice Girl (it's true!) to successful business owner, the importance of networking in a fun and engaging way (Ne'Twerking) and the challenges of building a business while managing chronic illness. Jess share
Brand consistency across your business
In this episode, Angela Lyons discusses the critical importance of brand consistency for businesses. She shares practical steps for auditing your brand's visual identity across various platforms and emphasises the need for a cohesive brand image. Angela also provides insights on creating a simple brand guideline document to ensure consistency and memorability in branding.To gain more insight
From Fashion to Freedom: Sarah Christie's Creative Evolution
In this episode of "Creatives Like Us," host Angela Lyons engages in a heartfelt conversation with jewellery and accessory designer Sarah Christie. Sarah shares her journey from a young girl influenced by her Jamaican grandparents to becoming a successful designer with her own brand, By Sarah Christie. She discusses the importance of cultural heritage in her work, the challenges she face
Just Start: Overcoming Self-Doubt in Creativity
In this episode of Creatives Like Us, host Angela Lyons reflects on her journey over the past year, discussing the importance of overcoming self-doubt, the impact of community support and the lessons learned from her podcasting experience. The episode also highlights the achievements of the podcast and its guests, celebrating the diversity and creativity within the community.Support the podcast: B
Being Intentionally Yourself with Gus Bhandal
In this episode, Angela sits down with Gus Bhandal, a LinkedIn trainer and marketing agency owner based in Coventry, to discuss authenticity in business and the power of being intentionally yourself. Gus shares his unconventional journey from marketing professional to pub landlord and how running a pub for three years became the catalyst for starting his own marketing agency.The conversation explo
The Power of Branding in Business
In this solo episode, Angela Lyons emphasises the critical role of branding in business success. She discusses how branding is not just a visual identity but an investment that influences how people perceive and remember a business. What to look for before working with a graphic designer. The conversation also highlights the potential costs associated with neglecting branding, including missed opp
Building Your Personal Brand with Ella Orr
In this episode of Creatives Like Us, Angela Lyons interviews Ella Orr, a personal branding coach, public speaker and social media marketer. Ella shares her journey from being a teacher to discovering her passion for social media marketing after a personal loss. She emphasises the importance of personal branding, the mindset shift required to embrace it and the value of networking and building con
Trusting your instincts: How Kayleigh Hall designed her own path
Angela Lyons sits down with Kayleigh Hall, a brand and website designer who transformed a "naive" leap of faith into an 11-year thriving freelance business. From accidentally discovering graphic design weeks before her uni interview to her obsessive love of typography, Kayleigh's journey is both inspiring and relatable. Kayleigh opens up about experiencing workplace microaggressions
Public Speaking for Creatives: Start Small, Build Confidence
In this solo episode of Creatives Like Us, Angela Lyons discusses the often daunting topic of public speaking, emphasising its importance for small business owners and freelancers. She shares personal experiences and practical tips for building confidence, starting small, and effectively communicating ideas. The conversation highlights the significance of visibility, authority, and clarity in publ
The power of public speaking with Festus Akinbusoye
In today's podcast episode, Angela takes a different format to the podcast by diving into public speaking with guest Festus Akinbusoye. He shares his personal experiences and provides practical advice on conquering fear and nerves while delivering powerful presentations through storytelling. Also he covers the significance of repetition in ensuring key messages resonate with listeners. Festus
Making social media work without the overwhelm: Tips for your business
Do you love or loathe social media? In this episode, I'm sharing how I was someone who absolutely loathed social media to using it with purpose for my business - Lyons Creative.I talk about practical tips on managing social media without burnout, including how I use time limits, content planning tools and the content pillar method to stay consistent. You'll learn about my approach to Lin
From journalism to redefining networking and social media with Yolanda Sissing
In this engaging conversation, Yolanda Sissing, founder of Pinkleaf Social and co-founder of the Anti-Social Socialites, shares her journey from a conventional career to becoming a social media consultant for purpose-driven brands.She discusses the catalyst that led her to pursue her passion, the importance of redefining networking and her diverse clientele focused on social impact. Yolanda also s
Everyone is Creative (Yes, Even in Business)
In this episode of Creatives Like Us Angela Lyons opens up about how this podcast has become her creative outlet and why she believes every single person has creativity within them. She shares exciting news about the upcoming Creatives Like Us event, celebrates community wins and reminds listeners that bringing something new into being, whether it's a business idea or a podcast episode, is th
Flip The Script: Reflections on Season One
The mic flips for our Creatives Like Us season finale! Host Angela Lyons takes the guest seat while producer Heather Pownall leads an open, honest conversation about Angela’s journey from launching the podcast to growing her voice and confidence as a Black creative business owner. From the behind-the-scenes work to the meaningful messages from listeners, Angela shares the milestones, the lessons,
Coaching, Art & Owning It: Vanessa Belleau on curating her creative path
In this inspiring penultimate episode of the season - the final guest interview of Creatives Like Us, Angela sits down in-studio with the radiant Vanessa Belleau — multidisciplinary creative, executive coach, TEDx Speaker and founder of Beautiful Water Studio and High Fifteen. Vanessa opens up about what it really means to own your creative identity — even when you don’t fit into traditional boxes
From London to Wales: A Creative Life Unfolded
In this episode, Ange sits down with Heather Ebanks, a graphic designer, photographer, and founder of the blog Digital Fluidity. Originally from South London and now based in South Wales, Heather shares her journey of navigating the creative world as a woman of colour, particularly within corporate spaces that didn’t always appreciate or amplify her voice. From her early creative sparks (hint: thi
From Copywriting to Cultural Work: Jo Sealy on Creative Journeys
In this episode of Creatives Like Us , Ange chats with Jo Sealy, a creative business owner, photographer and mentor whose career has spanned marketing, radio, TV and heritage work. Jo shares how she started out as an executive assistant while trying to break into journalism, eventually landing a job in an ad agency in Trinidad. From there, she built experience across the creative industries – incl
Finding the Frame: Gabriel Hutchinson’s Journey in Focus
In this episode of Creatives Like Us, host Ange sits down with photographer and visual storyteller Gabriel Hutchinson, who shares a candid and often humorous look at his creative journey. From experimenting with a tiny film camera in the Lake District as a child to managing a central London Sainsbury’s before landing an apprenticeship at a photo studio, Gabriel walks us through his unconventional
No More Gatekeeping: Law, Business and Doing Things Differently
In this episode, Ange talks to Nkem Ekwukoma, a lawyer who’s doing things very differently. Nkem is the founder of The Legal Storyteller, where she helps small business owners, especially women and people of colour, understand and manage the legal side of their work in a way that actually makes sense. No jargon, no intimidation, just clear, creative support that gives people confidence. She’s not
Personality & the Power of Showing Up
In this warm and honest conversation, designer Bhavini Lakhani from B81 Designs joins Ange on Creatives Like Us to talk about confidence, creative identity, and the joy of print. The two friends explore the value of leaning into your natural strengths, showing up on platforms like LinkedIn even when it feels exposing, and why saying no to a job that doesn’t align can open the door to the right kin
Joyful Movement and Body Confidence: Nana Crawford on Reclaiming Fitness
In this uplifting episode of Creatives Like Us, Ange speaks with Nana Crawford, founder of This Black Woman Can and Jiggle Fit, about her transformative journey into dance fitness. Nana shares how, after struggling with post-pregnancy weight and disillusionment with traditional fitness methods, she discovered samba during lockdown and reframed her entire approach to movement. What began as a quest
Creating Space: Mo Kanjilal on Inclusion, Tech and Turning Points
In this episode of Creatives Like Us, host Angela Lyons speaks with Mo Kanjilal, diversity and inclusion leader, TEDx speaker, and co-founder of Watch This Sp_ce. Mo shares her journey from senior roles in the tech industry to launching a purpose-led inclusion consultancy during the pandemic. With a background in English and a career spanning global sales and marketing, Mo talks candidly about the
Poetry in Motion: From Sound Systems to Storytelling & Spoken Truths
In this episode of Creatives Like Us, host Angela interviews performance poet Adisa, also known as The Verbaliser. Adisa shares his creative journey, beginning with his early involvement in Jamaican sound system culture and moving into poetry as a more meaningful and mature form of expression. He talks about being inspired by his father’s love of music and the discipline it taught him, as well as
Letting go of perfection and creating what matters
“I wanted my children to grow up knowing there is space for them.” - Sylvia PrinceThis week on Creatives Like Us, Ange speaks with Sylvia Prince, designer and founder of Sylvia Prince Designs. Sylvia shares her journey from graphic design to launching her own range of Afrocentric cards, created to reflect and celebrate black and brown children, particularly those who are often underrepresented, i
Lights, Camera, Breakthrough! A Journey in the TV & Commercial Film Industry
"We have a very London-centric view of Blackness in the UK, but Black people exist everywhere. Our stories deserve to be told too" - Makeda Matheson In this episode of Creatives Like Us, host Angela Lyons speaks with filmmaker, writer, and producer Makeda Matheson about her unexpected journey into the creative industry. Beginning her career in fashion styling in New York, Makeda transiti
Crafting culture through design and journalism
'We belong to any space we choose to be in.' - Kala Paul-WorikaIn this episode of Creatives Like Us, host Angela Lyons speaks with Kala Paul-Worika, a freelance journalist and the founder of By Kala X, a brand specialising in Afro-chic home interiors and clothing. Kala shares how her Nigerian heritage and love for vibrant African fabrics inspired her to start the business, initially maki
Making Art Work: David Oku on Valuing Your Craft
"As a Black creative, I’ve had to work ten times harder to be taken seriously – that’s why my work speaks for itself." - David OkuIn this episode of Creative Like Us, Ange speaks with London-based freelance illustrator and animator, David Oku. David shares his journey from a childhood passion for drawing to establishing himself as a professional artist. He discusses the impact of early e
Differentiation: It's not about fitting in but standing out
“When you walk into a room, own who you are and what you’ve achieved, it’s not about fitting in, it’s about standing out.” – Ayo AbbasIn this episode of Creatives Like Us, host Angela Lyons is joined by marketing consultant and podcaster Ayo Abbas to discuss their collaboration on the upcoming Creatives Like Us networking event for creatives of colour, which will take place on February 13th, 2025.
Creative journeys: Fitting in is Overrated!
In this first episode of Creatives Like Us, Angela speaks with Dominique van Werkhoven, a writer and co-founder of The Werks, about her journey as a creative entrepreneur. Dominique shares her experiences of building a career in writing, running a small business, and collaborating with other creatives. She reflects on the importance of representation, discussing her time as one of the few Black st
Creatives Like Us: Amplifying Voices, Building Community, and Passing It On
In this introductory episode of Creatives Like Us, host Angela Lyons (you may know her as Ange) shares her inspiration for creating a podcast that amplifies the voices of creatives of colour. Drawing from her personal journey as a graphic designer, Angela reflects on feelings of self-doubt during her time at Central Saint Martins and how representation and mentorship shaped her career. The podcast
Introducing Creatives Like Us
Creatives Like Us is a podcast dedicated to opening up the conversation and amplifying the voices of underrepresented creatives, especially people of colour. Hosted by graphic designer Angela Lyons, this podcast is all about breaking down barriers and showing that a successful career in the creative industry is possible for everyone. Through open conversations with inspiring creatives, Angela crea
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