This Is A Token with Alex Monroe Alex Monroe

As an extra special Father’s Day episode, Alex (and his daughter Connie) are delighted to introduce the super talented and charming craftspeople and ceramic experts Chris and Freya Bramble-Carter onto ‘This Is A Token.’
Chris has been a feature in the crafts world for a long time, and has taken his love of ceramics and teaching the art form to so many different communities, including teaching inmates at some of the UK’s bigger prisons. Although Alex and Chris have never met, their paths often intertwine as they talk through their careers in the arts world.
After studying a fine art degree, Freya felt inspired by her Dad’s eclectic journey in the crafts space to make her own ceramics. Known specifically for her skill in glazing and organic shapes, Freya’s popularity has grown immensely in recent years, and has even seen her participate as a guest judge on popular reality show, ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down’ on Channel 4.
Settle in and listen for a friendly chat between Chris and Freya with Alex as their shared collection of jewellery pieces often hold their mark from days by the clay wheel and childhood joy from happy shared memories going to Claire’s Accessories, Kilburn High Road and Topshop! It’s a heartwarming one.
Here are some useful links for further reading on topics discussed by Alex and Freya and Chris:
You can follow Freya on Instagram here
You can read Chris and Freya’s article with Ceramics Review here
You can find Chris’s website here
You can find Freya’s website here
Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe
Edited by Emily Sandford
Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

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

For our next episode of ‘This is a Token’, Alex is joined by his current favourite actor Charlotte Spencer.
Charlotte and Alex talk through her deep love of acting which started in childhood. Coming from humble beginnings, her parents have always supported her dream, which has given her the opportunity of performing both on the West End stage with another ‘This is a Token’ guest, Carrie Hope Fletcher as a child, and most recently on our screens as the formidable and uncompromising Nicki Jennings in the very popular series ‘The Gold’ on the BBC detailing*on the Brink’s-Mat Robbery.
Settle down and listen to Charlotte and Alex discuss her fantastically varied career so far, and how Charlotte’s performance have even inspired Alex for our upcoming collections. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled -  *hint, hint*.
Here are some useful links for further reading on topics discussed by Alex and Charlotte:
You can watch ‘The Gold’ here
You can see Charlotte’s filmography here
Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe
Edited by Emily Sandford
Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

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

Trigger Warning: This special episode of This Is A Token is an open conversation between Alex and his daughter Connie about experiences of anxiety and mental health with mention of suicide.
To mark Mental Heath Awareness Week from 15th - 21st May Alex and Connie have come together to record this special episode.
Here are some useful links for further reading discussed by Alex and Connie:
For more information on Mental Heath Awareness Week: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week
For suggestions on how to help cope with feelings of anxiety: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week/what-can-we-do-cope-feelings-anxiety
For more information on mental health: www.mind.org.uk

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

For our latest episode of ‘This is a Token’ podcast, Alex is joined by the multi-talented and super engaging Rosie Viva.
Rarely do we have a guest who is so aligned with Alex’s world. A depth of experience in the fashion industry, passionate about talking about all things mental health as well as being a jewellery designer in her own right, Rosie and Alex have so much in common.
Rosie and Alex talk through her experiences growing up as a fashion model, as well how her diagnosis of Type 1 Bipolar led to her powerful new documentary with Channel 4, ‘Modelling, Mania and Me’. Within the documentary, Rosie shares deeply personal footage of her treatment after an intense mental health break down. It shows how she has been able to build a meaningful life, navigate relationships and flourish in her career in the hopes that her story, with the backing of close friends such as singer songwriter Dua Lipa, will inspire others who might be facing the same challenges.
Settle down with a cup of peppermint tea (a personal favourite of Rosie’s) and listen to both Rosie and Alex have a positive conversation about all of this, as well how her natural creativity has enabled her to co-found her own brilliantly quirky jewellery for her popular brand, ‘Covert Jewellery’ in 2020.
Here are some useful links for further reading on topics discussed by Alex and Rosie:
You can follow Rosie on Instagram here
You can follow Rosie’s brand, ‘Covert Jewellery’ here
You can watch Rosie’s Documentary, ‘ Modelling, Mania and Me’ on Channel 4 Youtube Documentaries Page
Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe
Edited by Emily Sandford
Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

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

Alex is so happy to introduce our latest, ‘This is a Token’ podcast episode with the brilliant Esme Young.
After starting her fashion journey at the illustrious Central St Martins, Esme co-founded the iconic shop ‘Swanky Modes. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, her designs featured in some of the biggest publications at the time including, Vogue, The Face and Honey magazine.
Esme and Alex talk about her love of both teaching at her beloved Central St Martins, and now judging on the hugely popular reality series, ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’.
Listen in for a brilliant chat between Alex and Esme as her collection of jewellery pieces are as bold and impactful as her extraordinarily colourful career. This is a memorable one.
Here are some useful links for further reading on topics discussed by Alex and Esme:
You can follow Esme on Instagram here 
You see the latest series of The Great British Sewing Bee here
Here’s a link to Esme’s novel here:, ‘Behind the Seams’
Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe
Edited by Emily Sandford
Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen


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

Alex is thrilled to introduce our latest, ‘This is a Token’ podcast episode with the brilliant Cariad Lloyd.
After a varied path both on and off screen, Cariad is now well known for her hugely successful podcast, ‘Grief Cast’, where she and her guests discuss grief in a friendly and approachable way. She has a natural warmth when talking about a subject that is often tough to tackle.
Cariad and Alex talk in depth about her new book, ‘You Are Not Alone’, which details her own journey with grieving those she’s lost; and how jewellery pieces can be a great transitional object (Cariad’s fabulous term) for bringing someone they love back to the foreground of their thoughts. 
Listen in for a kind chat between Alex and Cariad as they delve into the stories behind some of her most treasured jewellery pieces. It’s a really heartwarming listen.
Here are some useful links for further reading on topics discussed by Alex and Cariad:
You can follow Cariad on Instagram here and on Twitter here
You can also follow Cariad on via Grief Cast Instagram here
You can listen to Cariad’s podcast here

Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe
Edited by Emily Sandford
Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

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