Podcast
THE IDLE HANDS SOCIETY
Hosted by Dan Higginson & Paul Bence · EN
Welcome to The Idle Hands Society, a community for creatives. Join us for regular chats with people across all disciplines, loosely focused on creativity.
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
S2 E7: Ed Thompson: The Magician
3w ago01:16:37Tap to summarizePEOPLE MentionedEd ThompsonWilliam EgglestonHenri Cartier-BressonAnsel AdamsDiane ArbusDina LitovskyTim HetheringtonPeter KnappSergei ChilikovGueorgui PinkhassovChuck CloseAustin Osman SpareDaido MoriyamaSam Battle (Look Mum No Computer)Lewis HineEsther TeichmannMr. MotivatorTom Anderson (Tom from Myspace)Idle Hands SocietyBooks & Films DiscussedThe Genius of Photography — BBC television series referenced in relation to William Eggleston shooting in France.In the Garden of England by Ed Thompson — Ed's published photobook (Note: The book was actually published under the title In-A-Gadda-Da-England!), referenced when discussing images that recur across projects.The Photographer's Playbook — An example of an unlikely photography book that found its audience.Anarcho-Dandies — Ed's forthcoming photobook drawn from his 2009 medium-format project. (Since the book is forthcoming, I linked to the 2009 slide-show video of the project!)Ed Thompson's unpublished occult photography manuscript — Seven years in the making, 50,000 words, untitled. (As it is unpublished, I linked back to Ed's official website).Louis Theroux: The Misogyny Disruptors — Cited as an analogy for the online course-selling culture in photography communities. (Note: The actual title of this 2026 Netflix documentary is Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere).Reach out to us @idlehandssociety. Your hosts today are @danshigginson, @paulbenceuk, and @mark_sugden on Instagram. You can support the Podcast by contributing to The Idle Hands Tip Jar.www.idlehandssociety.com
Transcribe →
S2 E6: Mark Sugden: The White Mercedes
Apr 2401:24:06Tap to summarizeArtists & People MentionedTom CollinsDaniel ArnoldJohn PutneyBarry LewisTess MorrisMatt LawrenceThe Idle Hands Society InstagramBooks & Films DiscussedThe Islanders by Dan WoodThe Valley by John PutneyDaniel Arnold by Loose JointsPickpocket by Daniel ArnoldMan Up Directed by Ben Palmer and Written by Tess MorrisOnly Murders in the BuildingTimestamps & Key Moments[03:00] Paul shares a harrowing and humorous account of falling ill while travelling through Tanzania, serving as an unconventional "icebreaker" that sets the authentic and grounded tone for the new season.[08:33] The group reflects on the practicalities of maintaining a creative community, discussing how a dedicated studio space removes the barriers to production that previously hindered their momentum.[13:58] A discussion on the influence of personal history in photography, focusing on how a photographer's background and unique upbringing prevent their work from becoming a mere imitation of their peers.[42:58] Mark provides a detailed look at the construction of his Slate Islands mquette, explaining the process of using accordion folds and binding tape to transform digital files into a physical film strip of memories.[01:05:01] The conversation turns to the aesthetic choices in landscape photography, debating whether the inclusion of a human figure adds a necessary narrative scale or if it functions as an overused visual cliché.[01:12:44] The trio performs a critical reading of Doug Dubois’s work, questioning the integrity of documentary practice when the photographer chooses to style, dress, and pose their subjects to fit a specific vision.Reach out to us @idlehandssociety. Your hosts today are @danshigginson, @paulbenceuk, and @mark_sugden on Instagram. You can support the Podcast by contributing to The Idle Hands Tip Jar.www.idlehandssociety.com
Transcribe →
S2 E5: Tom Collins: There’s an app for that
Apr 1601:29:22Tap to summarizeArtists & People MentionedTom CollinsDaniel ArnoldJohn PutneyBarry LewisTess MorrisMatt LawrenceThe Idle Hands Society InstagramBooks & Films DiscussedThe Islanders by Dan WoodThe Valley by John PutneyDaniel Arnold by Loose JointsPickpocket by Daniel ArnoldMan Up Directed by Ben Palmer and Written by Tess MorrisOnly Murders in the BuildingReach out to us @idlehandssociety. Your hosts today are @danshigginson, @paulbenceuk on Instagram. You can support the Podcast by contributing to The Idle Hands Tip Jar.www.idlehandssociety.com
Transcribe →
S2 E4: Barry Lewis: From Bunsen Burners to the Berlin Wall
Apr 902:12:35Tap to summarizeArtists & People MentionedBarry Lewis (Instagram)Antony GormleyDavid ToopElaine MitchenerDam Van HuynhRyuichi SakamotoIdle Hands Society InstagramBooks & Films DiscussedMiami Beach 1988-1995Blackpool 1984-1989Vaguely Lost in Shangri-La: Glastonbury in PhotographsButlin's Holiday Camp 1982Positive LivesPond (Film)Reach out to us @idlehandssociety. Your hosts today are @danshigginson, @paulbenceuk on Instagram. You can support the Podcast by contributing to The Idle Hands Tip Jar.www.idlehandssociety.com
Transcribe →
S2 E3: Old Photos
Apr 201:43:59Tap to summarizePeople MentionedRyan McDonaghBrian CarrollAlice TomlinsonNico FroehlichPaul BenceDan HigginsonIdle Hands Society InstagramBooks & Films DiscussedOffline JournalReach out to us @idlehandssociety. Your hosts today are @danshigginson, @paulbenceuk on Instagram. You can support the Podcast by contributing to The Idle Hands Tip Jar.www.idlehandssociety.com
Transcribe →
S2 E2: Stop Posing, Start Breathing
Mar 2701:45:51Tap to summarizePEOPLE MentionedMatthew LawrenceGeorge HurrellPaul BenceDan HigginsonIdle Hands Society InstagramBooks & Films DiscussedThe Photography Workshop Series: Dawoud Bey on Photographing People and Communities Batman (1989)Reach out to us @idlehandssociety. Your hosts today are @danshigginson, @paulbenceuk on Instagram. You can support the Podcast by contributing to The Idle Hands Tip Jar.www.idlehandssociety.com
Transcribe →
S2 E1: The Return and the Ritual
Mar 2000:59:29Tap to summarizePEOPLE MENTIONEDMitch Epstein: mitchepstein.netTrent Parke: magnumphotos.com/photographer/trent-parkeMatt Lawrence: matthewlawrencephotography.co.ukHashem McAdam: pushingfilm.comKai Wong: youtube.com/@kaimanwongIdle Hands Society Instagram: instagram.com/idlehandsBOOKS & FILMSAmerican Power by Mitch Epstein: steidl.de/Books/American-Power-0518214654.htmlMinutes to Midnight by Trent Parke: magnumphotos.com/shop/collections/books/minutes-to-midnight-trent-parkeReach out to us @idlehandssociety. Your hosts today are @danshigginson, @paulbenceuk on Instagram. You can support the Podcast by contributing to The Idle Hands Tip Jar.www.idlehandssociety.com
Transcribe →
056: Alys Tomlinson
Nov 7, 202401:07:27Tap to summarizeReach out to us @idlehandssociety. Your hosts today are @danshigginson, @paulbenceuk on Instagram. You can support the Podcast by contributing to The Idle Hands Tip Jar.www.idlehandssociety.com
Transcribe →
055: Where TF have you guys been?
Sep 17, 202401:06:22Tap to summarizeReach out to us @idlehandssociety. Your hosts today are @danshigginson, @paulbenceuk on Instagram. You can support the Podcast by contributing to The Idle Hands Tip Jar.www.idlehandssociety.comTom Collins - Last Stop Barry Island
Transcribe →
054: Brian Carroll
May 7, 202402:02:38Tap to summarizeReach out to us @idlehandssociety. Your hosts today are @danshigginson, @paulbenceuk on Instagram. You can support the Podcast by contributing to The Idle Hands Tip Jar.www.idlehandssociety.com
Transcribe →