
Hosted by INJECTION Magazine · EN

In a shocking series of revelations, the British entertainment industry has to, yet again, answer some serious questions about enabling former comedian Russell Brand to abuse and mistreat women for more than a decade. But he’s not the only one. Since the #metoo movement started, it appears that in every corner of the entertainment and creative industry, there are stories coming to light of abuse, exploitation and a serious imbalance of power. What does that tell us about the entertainment and creative industries? And what does it mean for any other workplace?

Becoming a published author is the dream for many writers out there and the bad news is that there is so much information out there that will tell you how difficult it is to have your writing published. But, as Chimen Georgette Kouri can testify, it is absolutely possible to get published and to hold your book baby in your arms, pick up that magazine you wrote an article for or send the link to your published work to family and friends. Chimen is a writer and author of femininely gothic short stories and poems, and her unique writing style and exceptional ideas have made her somewhat famous in the writing community. She talks about the inspirations for her stories, how she overcomes toxic writer traits and gives useful tips on getting your work published. Chimen Georgette Kouri

Art is an important form of activism, and comes in so many different shapes and forms. In today's episode, we talk to the multi-talented creative and activist Az Franco about his experiences as an artist, how he uses it as activism, how he deals with criticism and what inspires and influences him.

When Laura Wildish was a little girl, she had a dream: To have her own fashion brand and design clothes and accessories like no other before. Inspired by her resourceful and stylish mother, Laura grew up knowing she was different and didn't want to fit in - something she expressed with her clothes and style. A personal tragedy during lockdown jolted her into action, and since then she has been working on making her childhood dream a reality. Today, Laura's first luxury collection of elevated street wear and handmade colourful jewellery has made it into editorials, high-end magazines and onto runways. We chat with Laura about what it's like to start a business, the highs and lows of being a creative business owner and why it's so important to surround yourself with the right people.

Recent #girlhood trends on social media have evoked a resurgence and celebration of nostalgia around childhood, seen from the perspective of women. In this week's podcast I'm joined by Injection's writer and creative Nassima, who's done extensive research on this topic. We talk about why this is so important, how it impacts on those women with traumatic childhoods and our favourite girlhood treasures.

Going above and beyond, doing a fab job and working hard is one thing. But, as a creative, especially when you're starting out or still working multiple jobs to support your career in the arts, it's too easy to fall into the trap of saying yes to everything, doing too much for free or too little payment, and letting people take advantage of you. While nearly every creative has done work for free, this doesn't mean that it's acceptable and a precedent for future success. In today's Podcast we talk about different scenarios and what you can do to set clear boundaries, stick to your fees and walk away from clients who don't respect you.

Life as a creative is hard. And creative life is hard. Living a truly creative life takes dedication, faith, hard work, and perseverance. But those can easily be sucked up, chewed up and spat out by some productivity thieves. In today's episode we talk about procrastination, people-pleasing, perfectionism and the fear of being wrong, and how they can hinder your creative process. We share some of our own pitfalls and offer realistic and tried and tested solutions that you can apply straight away.

Ever felt there was something off during a date? Had plenty of Tinder dates that turned sour before the second drink? Suddenly found yourself in an emotionally abusive relationship? Ever dated a murderer? Lulu Johnson, author of the best-selling book Dating in Berlin has been there and done it all. In this podcast the gorgeous and bubbly writer talks to Injection about dating in Berlin, how to overcome rejection and recognise red flags and how the creative process has helped her understand important topics such as toxic masculinity, gaslighting and maintaining your self-worth at all times.

Brace yourself, it's a long one, but totally worth listening to! I promise! Being an artist in the 21st century is tough. There's no lack of talent, but lack of acknowledgement that the arts really matter and that artists should be paid a living and fair wage. So how are us artists dealing with the constant battle of working multiple jobs whilst keeping our creative career running? In this episode, three creatives share their experiences in the creative industry, the struggles they face on a daily basis and what keeps them going when things get tough. We also share some hilarious mishaps from working a supportive side-hustle in the hospitality industry, as well as tips for aspiring artists.

Many youngsters are in the last days of sitting GCSE and A-Level exams and may be asking themselves: What's next? University is often a natural choice after A-Levels, but increasing fees and the cost-of-living crisis put a lot of pressure on students. Injection speaks to Alessia, who decided against going to university and set up her own business instead. As a creative, she felt that she had better options outside of higher education. Listen to her story and share with us your own experiences.