The Creative Pod

Leya Mackus
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  • Arts

How good are the arts?! How good are people who work in the arts?! Wouldn’t it be awesome if someone interviewed a bunch of these creative people and made a podcast for everyone to listen to?! Well, you’re in luck! Welcome to The Creative Pod, an Australian-based podcast where I, Leya Mackus, chat to an array of artsy individuals working across various creative industries. Join me as I find out about what they do, why they do it, and discuss the importance of arts in our world today. Each episode, I will speak with a creative to hear about the goings-on in their creative life and in their pocket of the arts world. Think performers, directors, musicians, writers, actors, dancers, artists, designers, etc. The intention is to highlight the incredible work and people within Australia’s creative industries, and bring insight and inspiration to other existing or aspiring creatives and young people. We’ll unpack different creative industries, opportunities, experiences, and challenges (and goodness knows there are lots of those in the arts!), as well as get inspired by some of the brilliant things that are happening within our country and beyond. And, most importantly, we’ll hear from a variety of people who know it best, just why the arts are so important in our lives. This podcast is recorded by Radio Carrum, at Karrum Karrum, on the lands of the Bunurong People. I pay my respects to Indigenous Peoples past and present, and feel honoured to share creative stories and conversations on the land where countless creatives and stories have come before me.

  1. Oct 17

    Bridie Connell - Performer & Writer - The rise of Fuccbois: Live in Concert, and the value of improv, creativity, and arts in our lives

    Bridie Connell is an ARIA and multi-award-winning writer and performer, with an array of experience in acting, comedy, voice artistry, musical theatre, and improvisation. She is a former national improv champion, as well as World Theatresports Championship finalist, and currently performs and teaches improv regularly in Sydney. Bridie was a cast member of the Australian version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, has appeared on True Story with Hamish & Andy, and was one of the reporters on the ABC Comedy show Tonightly With Tom Ballard. Bridie has written and performed several successful plays and various other shows, which have toured across Australia and New Zealand. Most recently, Bridie has seen international success with her show Fuccbois: Live in Concert, which was awarded the House of Oz Purse Prize at Adelaide Fringe, supporting them to back up their successful run in Melbourne and Adelaide with performances at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Soho Theatre in London. Bridie and the bois are now gearing up for their next chapter of touring the show in Sydney later this month. In this episode, Bridie joins me to chat about all things Fuccbois; from the real-life inspiration and initial concept through to the show-stopping success amongst mega fans of the UK. She shares how improv is a defining part of her creative process, as well as how Yve Blake’s homework and encouragement contributed to her sea shanty success. We unpack the satire and songs from the show, and discuss the complexities of in-depth backstories of the characters, even in a seemingly silly show. Bridie shares her view on the importance of arts to bring colour and joy to our lives, and how the existence of creativity is everywhere and a core part of what makes us human.

    Bridie Connell - Performer & Writer - The rise of Fuccbois: Live in Concert, and the value of improv, creativity, and arts in our lives

  2. Aug 13

    21 - Sam Siddiqui - Theatre Enthusiast and Professional - How Networking, Self-care, and Persistence are Important for a Career in The Arts

    Sam Siddiqui is a therapist-turned-theatre-worker, who started with stage management but has since done almost every offstage theatre role there is! From rehearsal rooms to production managing to backstage, Sam has fast-tracked a high level of experience in a short space of time, working almost 30 contracts over the last 3 years, including internships with Michael Cassel Group on the Australian national tours of Hamilton and & Juliet. Sam is passionate about supporting mental health in the arts, working as a performance and wellbeing mentor as well as running her own performance coaching business ‘The Broadway Mindset’. In this episode, Sam shares how she forged her own pathway into working in theatre; reflects on the variety of roles she has experienced in theatre so far; and discusses the importance of supporting wellbeing in arts spaces. Sam also shares her perspectives on the importance of representation and diversity in the arts; we chat about musicals, directing, and the shows we love most (and have seen 30+ times?!); and of course consider how theatre and arts make our worlds and lives better.

    21 - Sam Siddiqui - Theatre Enthusiast and Professional - How Networking, Self-care, and Persistence are Important for a Career in The Arts

  3. Aug 5

    20 - Lincoln Elliott - Actor, Writer, Composer, etc. - The Makings of Artefact (or, Repatriation: The Musical) and Why We Should Support New Australian Works

    Lincoln Elliott is an actor, singer, voiceover artist, instrumentalist, writer, composer, and researcher, proudly of Wiradjuri heritage. A graduate of NIDA, he also holds a Bachelor of Music and is currently undertaking a PhD (Creative Practice). Through his doctoral research, Lincoln is writing and composing his own new Australian musical, Artefact (or, Repatriation: The Musical). Lincoln has a huge number of theatre credits to his name, including being part of the premiere cast of My Brilliant Career, earning a Green Room Award for Best Ensemble. Lincoln regularly joins development workshops for new works as well as appearing in established theatre productions, with credits including Ride the Cyclone (Hayes Theatre Co), Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical (Hayes Theatre Co), The Dismissal (Squabbalogic) and Sunshine Super Girl (Melbourne Theatre Company/State Theatre Company South Australia/Performing Lines). In this episode, Lincoln shares some (spoiler-free) insights into the makings of his emo-rock heist musical ‘Artefact’; reveals how the results of a colouring competition at 4 years old was a future-defining moment for his life/career; and delves into the importance of arts in our lives, for careers or for love. We laugh; we despair; we encourage you to buy up all the tickets to his upcoming show and support new musical theatre in Australia; and we make a combination of quality and trash jokes that we’ll let you be the judge of. Join us and enjoy!

    20 - Lincoln Elliott - Actor, Writer, Composer, etc. - The Makings of Artefact (or, Repatriation: The Musical) and Why We Should Support New Australian Works

  4. Jul 17

    19 - Clara Harrison - Performer & Artist - Creativity for joy as well as a job, plus the vulnerable and wonderful sides of acting

    Clara Harrison is a performer, creator, and artist, with a love for playful ideas and a powerhouse voice. Clara is based in Sydney, but their versatility and incredible vocals have taken them around the world, performing with several major cruise lines and across various local and international stages. Some of Clara’s recent credits include performances in Saturday Night Fever at the Athenaeum in Melbourne, and starring as Also Brendan in Fuccbois: Live in Concert. Clara has also worked in voice-over for projects with MTV, Sesame Street Live, and the ABC, and appeared as a multimedia actor with Sydney Theatre Company’s Dear Evan Hansen. Passionate about creating, Clara wrote and performed their original cabaret ‘Divas Through the Decades’ which they have presented internationally, and was named top 3 in the 2022 Brent Street Artist Fund for their original writing. Clara has appeared in two independent Australian feature films this year, and has also launched visual art business ‘Haus of Clara’, selling original artworks that are an extension of her creative energy and skill. In this episode, Clara joins me as we chat about their array of creative pursuits and many of the ups and downs that come along with a career in the performing arts. We talk about the success of satire-musical-comedy-drag-concert Fuccbois; the beauty of live theatre and the differences when working in film; Clara’s unlikely pathway into musical theatre; and the important life skill that is improvisation. We also touch on topics including mental health awareness and support within the industry; balancing boundaries and vulnerabilities in performance; our shared passion of supporting new works; and the importance of finding joy and creativity outside of paid work (even when, and especially when, that is part of creativity and joy, too!)

    19 - Clara Harrison - Performer & Artist - Creativity for joy as well as a job, plus the vulnerable and wonderful sides of acting

  5. Jul 2

    18 - Christine Pearsall, Marcus Galic, Johanna Chan, and Katie Kremin - Performers - Diversity in Theatre and How the Arts Make Life Worth Living

    Christine Pearsall, Marcus Galic, Johanna Chan, and Katie Kremin are all Melbourne-based performers and cast members of upcoming stage show ‘Murder at the Theatre’, where retro Bollywood meets Broadway in a musical-theatre-turned-real-life-mystery show. For this episode, they joined me in the studio for a group chat about the importance of diversity and representation in performing arts; the challenges that can come with the pursuit of arts careers; and how arts and creativity are important in our world and make life worth living. We also spoke a bit about their upcoming show ‘Murder at the Theatre’, which you can find more information and details ticket details for at https://mattmusical.com

    18 - Christine Pearsall, Marcus Galic, Johanna Chan, and Katie Kremin - Performers - Diversity in Theatre and How the Arts Make Life Worth Living

  6. Jun 18

    17 - Hannah McKinlay - Artist - The Importance and Beauty of Making Art and Making Time for Art

    Hannah McKinlay is a New Zealand-born Melbourne-based artist and secondary art teacher. Primarily a painter, her works are often of local street scenes, with a focus on particular buildings that have significance to her, or have a distinctive look about them, such as cafes, street corners, pubs, and other old buildings. Hannah’s paintings often have pink or bright undertones with transparent washes of colour, detailing the buildings and giving them a faint appearance that plays into the idea of memory, passing of time, and happy or nostalgic feelings about home or community. In this episode, Hannah joins me to chat about the importance of finding time for your own artistic practice, despite how busy our we may get when juggling all the other parts of life. We reflect on the nature of kids to play and explore materials without the fear of mess; the tubs of childhood paintings that get passed on from parents; the magic of cyanotype; and how art can be a refreshing form of restoration and help us feel more life ourselves. Hannah also gives us some insight into her creative process and personal style, the beautiful connection between artist and audience, and her perspective on building habits to make more art.

    17 - Hannah McKinlay - Artist - The Importance and Beauty of Making Art and Making Time for Art

  7. Jun 12

    16 - Amusing Musings from the Muses - Liz Violi

    This episode is the first instalment of some casual creative chats, where we take turns answering questions about various aspects of creativity and life. In this chat, Liz and I ponder what makes us feel most inspired, reminisce about our first musical experiences, relive some creative projects, and share many laughs along the way. Join us!

    16 - Amusing Musings from the Muses - Liz Violi

  8. Jun 4

    15 - Leo Sayer - Musician - The Incredible Life and Lessons of a Career in Music

    Leo Sayer is an internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter, whose success has spanned the past 6 decades, as a recording artist as well as a captivating live performer. He is best known for his 1978 hit “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”, which earned him a Grammy Award for R&B Song of the Year. His songs have been sung by other notable artists, including Cliff Richard, Roger Daltrey, and Three Dog Night. With dozens of hit singles and 18 studio albums, Leo has sold millions of records to date, has headlined concerts across the globe, and has played in some of the most iconic venues in the world. Leo began his career in the United Kingdom, but for a long time has proudly called Australia home. In this episode, Sayer joins me for an incredible chat, revisiting some of the standout stories from his life in stardom; explaining how his theatrical persona of pierrot helped him face the stage; and despairing that one of the biggest barriers facing musicians and artists (especially those starting out) is often money. He shares some of the lessons he has learnt along the way during his many years of (ongoing) success; his enthusiastic encouragement for aspiring artists to find their skill; how he continues to have inspiration and passion for this industry which he so clearly loves being part of; and why, no matter his age, he’ll continue to feel like dancing.

    15 - Leo Sayer - Musician - The Incredible Life and Lessons of a Career in Music
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About

How good are the arts?! How good are people who work in the arts?! Wouldn’t it be awesome if someone interviewed a bunch of these creative people and made a podcast for everyone to listen to?! Well, you’re in luck! Welcome to The Creative Pod, an Australian-based podcast where I, Leya Mackus, chat to an array of artsy individuals working across various creative industries. Join me as I find out about what they do, why they do it, and discuss the importance of arts in our world today. Each episode, I will speak with a creative to hear about the goings-on in their creative life and in their pocket of the arts world. Think performers, directors, musicians, writers, actors, dancers, artists, designers, etc. The intention is to highlight the incredible work and people within Australia’s creative industries, and bring insight and inspiration to other existing or aspiring creatives and young people. We’ll unpack different creative industries, opportunities, experiences, and challenges (and goodness knows there are lots of those in the arts!), as well as get inspired by some of the brilliant things that are happening within our country and beyond. And, most importantly, we’ll hear from a variety of people who know it best, just why the arts are so important in our lives. This podcast is recorded by Radio Carrum, at Karrum Karrum, on the lands of the Bunurong People. I pay my respects to Indigenous Peoples past and present, and feel honoured to share creative stories and conversations on the land where countless creatives and stories have come before me.

Information

  • Creator
    Leya Mackus
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Leya Mackus 2026
  • Show Website
    The Creative Pod