Nothing, Something Nothing

Nine Tree Studios

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A podcast series with and for creatives. It’s about the creative moments you didn’t know you missed. It’s about the space between ideas, and the highs and lows that shape creative work. Our guests are from across disciplines, sharing their approach to creativity from the worlds of film, music, design, business, food and art.

3D AGO

#005 - Kate Lenton on 'brand agency CEO' to 'forensic art psychotherapist'

We sit down with Kate Lenton to explore a radical career pivot that moves from the pursuit of commercial perfection to the messy, transformative power of art psychotherapy. After twenty years in the design industry - culminating in running a successful branding agency - Kate experienced a moment of clarity during the pandemic. She realised she was managing business logistics rather than facilitating creativity, leading her to retrain as an art psychotherapist in her mid-forties. The conversation delves deep into the friction between the education system and creative development. Kate highlights the alarming pipeline from school exclusion to the justice system, particularly for young men who struggle with the rigid "sit and be quiet" structure of modern schooling. She believes that creativity is not merely an aesthetic pursuit but a vital tool for emotional regulation and communication, especially for those who find verbal expression difficult. We also discuss her work in forensic settings, the importance of "holding space" in male prisons, and her role as Chair of Talk Club, a charity dedicated to men's mental fitness. This serves as a masterclass on why we must decouple creativity from the pressure of productivity and return to the act of play. #artpsychotherapy #mentalhealthawareness #creativestrategy #educationreform #forensicpsychology #careerpivot #designthinking #mensmentalhealth #talkclub #neurodiversity

49 min
FEB 10

#004 - Christie Gray (CD at Kimberly-Clark); from hospice to head of brand

We sit down with Christie Gray, Head of Brand Design and Identity at Kimberly Clark. Christie’s narrative spans the emotional spectrum of a creative life, beginning with a formative experience visiting a dying mentor in a hospice - a moment that cemented her belief that creativity is an innate survival mechanism. She candidly explores the commercial realities of the industry, recounting a painful experience where she was denied credit for a D&AD Pencil-winning project. This erasure shaped her current leadership philosophy, which rests on three pillars: clarity, psychological safety, and radical recognition. Beyond the studio, Christie offers a sophisticated take on the integration of motherhood and ambition. She challenges the industry’s lingering "Mad Men" dynamics and advocates for a results-based culture where boundaries are respected. We also look to the horizon, discussing the future of FMCG branding as a "living ecosystem" and why AI represents a return to pure ideation rather than a threat to employment. Whether you are a junior designer fearing specialisation or a leader seeking to foster a healthier culture, this conversation offers an essential roadmap for a resilient, human-centric career. #DesignPodcast, #CreativeLeadership, #KimberlyClark, #WomenInDesign, #BrandStrategy, #CareerAdvice

46 min
FEB 4

#003 - Calum "Pie King" Franklin on culinary design, The Pie Room, and that 'King' label

Calum Franklin discusses his journey from the high-pressure world of Michelin-starred fine dining to becoming the face of the British pie renaissance. Dubbed the "Pie King" by Jamie Oliver, Calum explains why he prefers the title Pie Man, and how discovering an antique pie tin in a basement sparked an obsession with a 600-year-old culinary craft. He argues that pie-making is a form of design rather than art - because food should never be confusing. Rather than looking to farmyards for inspiration, Calum draws from London architecture and historical objects found while mudlarking in the Thames, including a Freemason coin that directly influenced the structure of one of his signature dishes. We explore the creation of The Pie Room, a space designed to immerse chefs in detail, and Calum shares why he often struggles to enjoy his finished creations despite loving the process itself. Reflecting on lessons learned from Noma, he explains why the reception desk is the most important part of any restaurant and why hospitality must always come before profitability. Calum also opens up about his past struggles with alcoholism, the need for a softer landing within the industry, and offers honest advice to young chefs about travelling, taking risks, and stepping outside their comfort zones. And finally, his most reassuring takeaway of all: if you can drive a car, you can make a pie.

52 min
JAN 28

#002 - Alex Rodrigues on "The Audience Sucks," Channel 4’s digital shift, and the hunter-gatherer theory of content

Alex Rodrigues on "The Audience Sucks," Channel 4’s digital shift, and the hunter-gatherer theory of content. Producer and director Alex Rodrigues discusses his role in driving digital innovation at Channel 4, and the challenge of transforming a legacy broadcaster into the UK’s first digital public service broadcaster. Alex explains how he approaches a rapidly changing industry by translating the texture of traditional television into a language that speaks authentically to digital audiences. He outlines his gunter-gatherer theory of content, which suggests humans are hardwired to choose familiar ideas - like safe berries - over radical reinvention. From this, he argues that creators should aim for familiarity with a twist, and introduces the Regret Test as a true measure of success - ensuring the audience never regrets the time they spent consuming the work. We discuss why consistency beats quality when starting out, and how maintaining output flow is essential for staying visible within algorithms. Alex reframes the idea of format, not as complex structure, but as the repeated and reliable delivery of value, and explains why production value matters far less than clear, simple storytelling. The conversation also explores the shift from generic presenters to authentic experts, the difference between using short-form video for discovery versus long-form for brand building, and the origins of his newsletter "The Audience Sucks", created to break down industry gatekeeping. Finally, Alex reflects on why - if he had to start again - he might choose to become a monk.

44 min
JAN 21

#001 - Lee Kiernan (IDLES) on chaotic creativity, filmmaking... and golf therapy

We sit down with Lee Kiernan, guitarist for the Mercury Prize-nominated band IDLES and co-founder of the film collective Holding Hands with Horses. Known for his visceral stage presence - often launching himself into the crowd with a grin - Lee explains how IDLES were forged on stage rather than in the studio, guided by a simple philosophy: “If you couldn’t perform the song, is it really a good song for us?” He unpacks his highly intuitive approach to guitar, describing it as “stabbing in the dark,” and how he builds a deliberately rough “bag of hammers” on his pedalboard to serve the song, not showcase technical skill. Beyond music, Lee opens up about his work as a director, exploring the stark contrast between his chaotic live persona and his “strangely calm” presence on film sets. He explains why he believes the best creative work happens without stress, and shares a brutally honest account of creative blocks - the darkness of feeling like a failure when ideas don’t land, and the agony of spotting every tiny mistake in the edit suite. Join us for a conversation that is enlightening, beautiful, and - in true Lee Kiernan fashion - really uncomfortable and awkward.

46 min

5 Episodes

A podcast series with and for creatives. It’s about the creative moments you didn’t know you missed. It’s about the space between ideas, and the highs and lows that shape creative work. Our guests are from across disciplines, sharing their approach to creativity from the worlds of film, music, design, business, food and art.

Creator

Nine Tree Studios
Years Active

2K
Episodes

5
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Nine Tree Studios
Show Website

Nothing, Something Nothing