Best Heath Robinson Podcasts (2024)

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Bernard Kinsey 1:09:01

5h ago1:09:01

1:09:01

In this episode, Eric sits down with philanthropist, entrepreneur and patron of the arts… Bernard Kinsey. They discuss his early life; having been raised in a middle class family in West Palm Beach, Florida. The loving environment that fostered him and instilled in him strong values. His experience of growing-up in a segregated state, attending Flo…

1
Oliver Heath on biophilic design. 52:22

2h ago52:22

52:22

Oliver Heath is a designer, architect, author and one of the world’s leading advocates for biophilic design. Along with his team and the sustainable platform Planted, he currently has an exhibition at the Roca Gallery in South London, which focuses firmly on bio design – illustrating what it is, why it’s important, and how it can be used in the spa…

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Angela Robinson Witherspoon 1:07:21

14d ago1:07:21

1:07:21

In this episode, Eric sits down with actress, filmmaker & artist Angela Robinson Witherspoon. They discuss her early exposure to art and her experience of living in the Netherlands as young girl. How she followed her heart to live a life in the arts. Studying art, taking jobs where she used her artistic abilities, being a model in New York City, to…

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Kadir Nelson 1:13:06

19d ago1:13:06

1:13:06

In this episode, Eric sits down with talented and celebrated artist, illustrator and author… Kadir Nelson! They discuss how he first discovered his artistic inclination and how it had been fostered from an early age; having been mentored by artist and art teacher Michael Morris; his uncle. His educational journey in art — having received a scholars…

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Byron Motley 1:00:10

1M ago1:00:10

1:00:10

In this episode, Eric sits down with the talented and accomplished singer, songwriter, filmmaker, author, lecturer and photographer... Byron Motley. They discuss his early years; being raised in Kansas Missouri, his early exposure to music and singing and the love that he developed for performance -- to eventually having a musical career, working o…

1
Ernest Scheyder on lithium, mining, and the politics behind going green. 52:36

2M ago52:36

52:36

Ernest Scheyder is an author and senior correspondent for Reuters. His new book, The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives, looks at the impact of the green transition in the US – and, more particularly, the tensions over the increasing need to mine for metals to decarbonise the grid (and power a plethora of devices) …

1
Adi Toch on why she buries copper. 54:01

3M ago54:01

54:01

Adi Toch is one of the world’s most fascinating metal artists, who over the years has buried her pieces for months on end before digging them up, and even made them react to sound. She has also taken part in collaborations with furniture makers and glass artists. Adi has work in the permanent collections of the V&A, The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambri…

1
Human Nature's Jonathan Smales on mining the Anthropocene, and building in timber and Hempcrete at The Phoenix. 1:06:23

3M ago1:06:23

1:06:23

Jonathan Smales is a housing developer like few others. He is the co-founder and executive chairman of Human Nature, whose new project, The Phoenix, on the outskirts of Lewes, East Sussex in the UK, has just won planning permission. What makes the development different? The Phoenix will contain 685 homes, designed by a roster of fascinating archite…

1
Bert Frank's Adam Yeats on manufacturing in post-Brexit Britain. 40:07

4M ago40:07

40:07

Adam Yeats is co-founder and managing director of Bert Frank, one of the UK’s leading lighting companies. Yeats started the brand with designer, Robbie Llewellyn, in 2013. Since then it has gone from strength to strength, opening a showroom in London’s Clerkenwell in 2019, exhibiting at home and abroad, and winning the Elle Decoration British Desig…

1
Ptolemy Mann on colour, weaving, and painting. 57:48

4M ago57:48

57:48

Ptolemy Mann is a British artist who came to widespread attention with her woven textile pieces, often stretched across a frame and notable for her extraordinary use of colour. More recently, her practice shifted and she has turned to painting on paper with fascinating – and inevitably colourful – results. Her latest pieces combine the two, as she …

1
Fairphone's Bas van Abel on repair, longevity, and conflict minerals. 1:01:15

6M ago1:01:15

1:01:15

Bas van Abel founded Fairphone in 2013. The company attempts to transform the way our smartphones are manufactured, by reducing e-waste, sourcing conflict-free minerals, and improving working conditions in its supply chain. It creates a product consumers are encouraged to keep longer and which, importantly, they can also repair themselves. Fairphon…

1
John Tuomey on his childhood, becoming an architect, and his beautiful new memoir. 55:47

6M ago55:47

55:47

There have been over 100 episodes of Material Matters but, for listeners who might be new to all this, the idea is that I speak to a designer, maker, artist, or architect about a material or technique with which they’re intrinsically linked and discover how it changed their lives and careers. However, once in a while I break my own self-imposed for…

1
Sara Grady and Alice Robinson on making ethical leather. 55:47

7M ago55:47

55:47

Sara Grady and Alice Robinson co-founded British Pasture Leather in 2020. The duo aim in their own words ‘to link leather with exemplary farming and, in doing so, to redefine leather as an agricultural product’. All of which means creating a new network of systems within the industry. Essentially, the pair are attempting to make the material we buy…

1
Florian Gadsby on clay and becoming a potter. 58:13

7M ago58:13

58:13

Florian Gadsby is a bit of a phenomenon. The ceramicist currently has a new show at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and has also published a memoir, By My Hands, that charts his formative years with clay, including apprenticeships in the UK and, most intriguingly, Japan. Essentially, it unpicks his route to becoming a fully, fledged professional pott…

1
Christien Meindertsma on wool (and linoleum). 51:23

7M ago51:23

51:23

Christien Meindertsma is a Dutch designer who has a fascination with materials. She currently has an installation at the V&A, entitled Re-forming Waste, which shows new work based around her interest in linoleum, as well as technological advances with the material she has described as her first love, wool. Christien came to wider attention initiall…

1
Simone Brewster on 2023, her breakthrough year. 59:01

8M ago59:01

59:01

This special festive episode is slightly different because, as we come to the end of 2023, we thought it would be interesting to talk to someone who has had a breakthrough year. And we couldn’t think of anyone that description fits better than UK-based designer, Simone Brewster. In June, Simone held her first solo exhibition at the NOW Gallery on L…

1
Jeremy Maxwell Wintrebert on hot glass. 53:48

8M ago53:48

53:48

Jeremy Maxwell Wintrebert is a Paris-based designer, maker, and artist, obsessed with blown glass. In an eclectic career, that has seen him travelling through the USA and Europe, before settling in France in 2007, he has shown work at the V&A, Vessel Gallery in London, and Palais de Tokyo among others. His pieces are also held in a number public co…

1
Neil Thomas on building with bamboo. 56:18

9M ago56:18

56:18

Neil Thomas is the founder and director of Atelier One, one of the most creative engineering practices in the UK. The firm has worked on building projects such as Singapore Arts Centre, Federation Square in Australia, and Baltic in Gateshead, as well as with a hugely impressive roster of artists, including Anish Kapoor, Marc Quinn and Rachel Whiter…

1
Caroline Till on material futures, regenerative design, and lots more. 59:03

10M ago59:03

59:03

Caroline Till is a consultant, author, curator, and academic. She founded Franklin Till, along with Kate Franklin, in 2010 and, since then, the future research agency has worked with the likes of international textile exhibition Heimtextil, paper giant GF Smith, Caesarstone, Tarkett, and IKEA’s former blue sky thinking agency, Space 10. The pair ha…

1
Tom Lloyd and Luke Pearson on their material change. 1:05:00

11M ago1:05:00

1:05:00

Tom Lloyd and Luke Pearson co-founded the hugely influential design studio, Pearson Lloyd, in 1997. Since then, it has gone on to work in areas such as the workplace, transport and health care, with organisations like Virgin, Lufthansa, the Department for Health, and furniture giant Senator. The practice is the Designer of the Year at the Material …

1
Goldfinger’s Marie Carlisle on wood and social good. 48:33

12M ago48:33

48:33

Marie Carlisle is CEO and co-founder of social enterprise (and Material Matters exhibitor), Goldfinger. The organisation opened its doors at the foot of West London’s Trellick Tower in 2013 and makes high end furniture from wood – that has often been reclaimed or ‘treecycled’ – in its workshop. Not only that but it has a showroom and cafe, as well …

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Bernard Stanley Hoyes 1:07:18

12M ago1:07:18

1:07:18

In this episode, Eric sits down with the talented and celebrated artist Bernard Stanley Hoyes. They discuss his experience of growing up in Jamaica and discovering his passion for art. Working in carpentry, to transitioning into sculpture and painting. His unique upbringing and exposure to the Revival culture and spirituality… moving to the United …

1
Michael Marriott on resourceful design and his fascination with materials. 58:54

12M ago58:54

58:54

My guest for the 100th episode of Material Matters is a British designer who sits somewhere between industry and craft. Michael Marriott has a fascination with materials – so much so that his web shop is called Wood Metal Plastic – and a love of resourceful design. Over the years he’s created furniture for the likes of Established & Sons, SCP, and …

1
Alice Kettle on embroidery. 53:55

12M ago53:55

53:55

Alice Kettle is one of the country’s leading textile artists. She uses embroidery to tell stories and throw the spotlight on contemporary issues – most noticeably the refugee crisis in her series Thread Bearing Witness. Currently, she has a solo installation at two sites in The City of London as part of her prize for winning The Brookfield Properti…

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Pamela Brown 1:02:20

12M ago1:02:20

1:02:20

In this episode, Eric sits down with AAA certified art appraiser, friend and colleague… Pamela Brown. They discuss her educational background and her love of history, research and learning… especially related to African American culture. How she first became interested and exposed to the arts including new and emerging artists. Her educational back…

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Peter J. Harris 1:04:38

1y ago1:04:38

1:04:38

In this episode, Eric sits down with renowned author Peter J. Harris. They discuss his early beginnings; from having been born in Washington D.C, studying journalism at Howard University to eventually pursuing a career as a writer. They discuss his personal life and how he first developed an interest in poetry — meeting influential artists and mast…

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Keasha Dumas Heath 57:46

1y ago57:46

57:46

In this episode, Eric sits down with Executive Director of the nonprofit Museum of African American Art in Los Angeles; Keasha Dumas Heath. They discuss her passion for storytelling, affinity for poetry and the interconnectivity of the arts. The history and legacy of the museum, including the founder Dr. Samella Lewis… the role that MAAA has played…

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Alvin Hall 1:02:45

1y ago1:02:45

1:02:45

In this episode, Eric sits down with author, media personality and art collector; Alvin Hall. They discuss his early beginnings — growing up in Florida during the Jim Crow era, his educational journey and early exposures to art. The artists who inspired him and helped cultivate his knowledge and appreciation for the artistic process. How he began c…

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Kenneth Gatewood 1:02:11

1y ago1:02:11

1:02:11

In this episode, Eric sits down with acclaimed artist Kenneth Gatewood. They discuss the role that his parents played in encouraging him to pursue art and his early beginnings as an artist. Growing up in South Central LA and the artists that influenced him. Being an artist, managing himself and the importance of presentation. Gatewood’s artistic pr…

1
Beatie Wolfe on making music material again and the power of art. 1:11:30

1y ago1:11:30

1:11:30

Beatie Wolfe is a musician and artist, who has in her time been described as a ‘musical weirdo and visionary’ and one of the ‘22 people changing the world’. In a relatively short career she has: created a 3D interactive album app and a musical jacket; worked in the world’s quietest room to develop an ‘anti-stream’; fired her music into space; made …

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Jamaal Sheats 1:00:53

1y ago1:00:53

1:00:53

In this episode, Eric sits down with artist, curator and professor; Jamaal Sheats. They discuss his background — growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, his interest in the arts, his educational background, attending Fisk University and ultimately ending up at Fisk University as a faculty member! Sheats sheds light on how at first he ‘ran’ from the art…

1
Ndidi Ekubia on silver and her extraordinary, liquid-like vessels. 50:41

1y ago50:41

50:41

Ndidi Ekubia creates extraordinary, almost liquid-looking, vessels from silver. She graduated from the University of Wolverhampton in 1995, before going on to the Royal College of Art. Since then, her work has been shown internationally at exhibitions such as TEFAF in Maastricht, Masterpiece in London, and Pavilion of Art & Design in New York. Her …

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Christen Austin 59:41

1y ago59:41

59:41

In this episode, Eric sits down with the talented Christen Austin; California native visual artist. They discuss her early exposures to art, artistic influences and how her Mother is also an artist. She sheds light on her educational background, studying Biology, how it lends to her artistic approach. How she transitioned into becoming a full-time …

1
Ercol chairman, Henry Tadros, on elm, beech, ash and keeping his company relevant. 47:00

1y ago47:00

47:00

Henry Tadros is chairman of one of the country’s most renowned furniture companies, Ercol. The firm was founded by Italian immigrant, Lucian Ercolani, in 1920 but it really found its feet after the Second World War with the Windsor Range – an industrial version of a traditional craft chair – that is best known for its steam bending process and usin…

1
Donna Wilson on knitting, becoming a brand, and creating her extraordinary creatures. 51:02

1+ y ago51:02

51:02

Donna Wilson is a globally-feted designer. She initially made a name for herself in 2003 with a series of knitted toy creatures made of lambswools, which managed to be odd and endearing all at the same time. Since then, she has worked with the likes of SCP, John Lewis, V&A Dundee, as well as having a solo show at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Meanw…

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Jacori Perry "Aiseborn" 1:12:00

1+ y ago1:12:00

1:12:00

In this episode, Eric sits down with the talented artist Aiseborn at the Museum of African American Art at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles. They discuss how he first began making art that included drawing from comic books, magazines, tv shows and super hero characters to eventually developing into an exhibiting. The various media he…

1
Julian Stair on pots, death, and using cremated ashes in his work. 54:24

1+ y ago54:24

54:24

Julian Stair is one of the UK’s leading ceramic artists. He has exhibited internationally since the 1980s and made his name making beautiful, pared-back everyday forms. Julian’s work is in 30 public collections, including the British Museum and the V&A and he was awarded an OBE in 2022 In March, he launched a fascinating, and deeply moving, new exh…

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Lauren Cross 59:16

1+ y ago59:16

59:16

In this episode, Eric sits down with Lauren Cross, Ph.D Gail-Oxford Associate Curator of American Decorative Arts at The Huntington. They discuss how she was encouraged to express herself artistically as a young girl and that she comes from a creative family. Her educational journey; interdisciplinary studio art background including photography, di…

1
Trailer 1:22

1+ y ago1:22

1:22

African American art specialist and owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery; Eric Hanks — offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts… on the past, present & future of African American art. For more visit: www.ericsperspective.com African American art specialist and owner of the renowned …

1
Paul Cocksedge on coal, metal, light, concrete and much more besides. 53:18

1+ y ago53:18

53:18

Paul Cocksedge is a London-based designer who has built a reputation over the past twenty years for creating projects that push the limits of technology and materials. During that time, for example, he has melted polystyrene cups in an oven to make a lamp shade, treated steel as if it was a folded piece of paper, worked with concrete from the floor…

1
Ineke Hans on designing for the circular economy. 49:39

1+ y ago49:39

49:39

Ineke Hans is a world-renowned product and furniture designer. She originally studied art at Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Arnhem before switching to design. In 1993, she moved to London’s Royal College of Art and, subsequently, worked for Habitat as a furniture designer. By the end of the decade she was focusing on her own work and, since then, clien…

1
Darren Appiagyei on turning Banksia nuts and waste wood. 37:02

1+ y ago37:02

37:02

Darren Appiagyei is a wood turner and founder of inthegrain. The Camberwell College of Arts graduate made his name with vessels fashioned from the Banksia nut. Subsequently, he has gone on to create pieces from waste wood he finds on a local farm not far from his studio in London’s Deptford. He believes his work is ‘about embracing the intrinsic be…

1
Summer Islam on building with biomaterials. 55:07

1+ y ago55:07

55:07

Summer Islam is a founding director of Material Cultures, a not-for-profit organisation that in its own words ‘challenges the systems, technologies, processes, supply chains, regulations and materials that make up the construction industry with the aim of transforming the way we build’. Currently, Summer has an installation in London’s Building Cen…

1
Keith Brymer Jones on his life in clay and TV stardom. 48:05

1+ y ago48:05

48:05

Keith Brymer Jones is a potter, whose hand-made ceramics – which include the best selling Word Range – have been stocked in major stores, including Habitat, Laura Ashley and Heals. Over the years, he has been a ballet dancer, a front man in a nearly famous post-punk band, and a YouTube sensation. However, he is best known as a judge on the hugely p…

1
Peter Apps on Aluminium Composite Material and the Grenfell Tower fire. 55:21

1+ y ago55:21

55:21

Peter Apps is a journalist and author, as well as the deputy editor of Inside Housing. His extraordinary, devastating new book, Show Me The Bodies: How We Let Grenfell Happen, looks at the evidence of the public enquiry into the circumstances leading up to, and surrounding, the fire at London’s Grenfell Tower on the night of 14 June 2017. Unpicking…

1
Smile Plastics’ Rosalie McMillan and Adam Fairweather on recycling plastic and reviving a company. 57:12

1+ y ago57:12

57:12

Rosalie McMillan and Adam Fairweather are co-founders of the materials, design and manufacturing house, Smile Plastics. They have a factory in South Wales which takes plastics and other materials traditionally classed as waste and transforms them into extraordinarily eye-catching, large scale, solid surface panels. Over the years, the company has w…

1
Aric Chen on design and energy, giving microbes agency, and lots more. 43:40

1+ y ago43:40

43:40

Aric Chen is general and artistic director of the Het Nieuwe Instituut, the Dutch national museum for architecture, design and digital culture in Rotterdam. During one of those careers that makes you wonder what on earth you’ve been doing with your time, he has also been creative director of Beijing Design Week, lead curator for design and architec…

1
Professor Rebecca Earley on polyester, people and pragmatism. 57:51

2y ago57:51

57:51

Professor Rebecca Earley is a design researcher and award-winning team leader at University of the Arts London and is based at Chelsea College of Arts where she is Professor of Circular Design Futures. Initially, she trained as a printed textile designer before creating her own fashion label, B.Earley, in 1995. Her prints and garments have been com…

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Charles Dickson 1:03:45

2y ago1:03:45

1:03:45

In this episode, Eric sits down with Los Angeles based Postwar & Contemporary sculptor Charles Dickson. They discuss his first exposure to art, how he was specifically drawn to carving at a very young age to, eventually become a child prodigy.. his educational path, involvement in various organizations and the great artists who inspired and mentore…

1
Eric's Perspective Feat. Suesan Stovall 59:58

2y ago59:58

59:58

In this episode, Eric speaks with artist, actor & singer; Suesan Stovall. They discuss how she first became exposed to the arts and artists and the role her family played in surrounding her with art and immersing her into the art world. They discuss her artistic journey -- beginning with acting and the performing arts; her training and education an…

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